How much and how quickly a small child gains weight -- could affect their blood pressure as an adult.

British researchers discovered this link after analyzing the childhood growth patterns of almost 700 young adults.

They found children who gain weight rapidly in the first five months after birth, as well as from ages two to five, are more likely to have higher systolic blood pressure as adults.

Low birth weights and immediate weight gain after birth were also linked to higher blood pressure in adults.

Researchers say these findings could be useful in predicting a possible spike in high blood pressure in the future.

And in other medical news...
A new study finds California’s Tobacco Control Program has significantly reduced the state's medical costs.

Researchers at UC San Francisco find the program saved $86 billion in healthcare costs in only 15 years.

That’s a 50-1 return on the investment of the $1.8 billion it took to start the program.

Researchers say the program works because it's targeted at adults, not teens and when adults stop smoking, the health benefits are immediate.

The study finds the program prevented 3.6 billion packs of cigarettes from being smoked from 1989 to 2004.